250 poor seniors in NCR first to get P1K per month pension

A total of 250 indigent senior citizens in Metro Manila were the first batch to receive the P1,000 per month pension as the implementation of Republic Act 11916 or the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors Act began.

The law doubled the monthly pension of the seniors from P500 to P1,000.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras," from P3,000, over four million indigent senior citizens in the National Capital Region will now receive a P6,000 pension every six months.

“Ang batas na ito ay parangal sa mga sakripisyo, malasakit at pagmamahal na walang sawang ipinagkakaloob ng ating mga lolo at lola,”  Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said. 

(This law is a tribute to the sacrifices, care, and love given tirelessly by our grandparents.)

First lady Liza Araneta Marcos helped give the symbolic cheque to the initial beneficiairies.

“Sa mga lolo at lola diyan, senior citizens you are in good hands with DSWD,” she said. 

Maria  Castillo Abugan, 76, was thankful for the pension increase.

“Natuwa kami dahil lalo na sa akin maraming gamot na binibili,” said Maria Castillo Abugan, 76 year old beneficiary. 

(We were happy because especially for me, I buy a lot of medicines.) 

According to the DSWD, the previous P25 billion fund has increased to P49.8 billion, which will be enough to cover the increase in pension.

Applicants to the Social Pension Beneficiary Program may go to the local Social Welfare Office for assistance.

However, the program accepts only those with proof that they are poor, do not receive a pension, have no other source of income, and do not receive support from their loved ones.

Currently, there are still 400,000 pension applicants whose request to be included in the program is still being processed by the DSWD. —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News